Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 28.8 | 3,778 people · 62nd most distressed in Minnesota
American Default Research

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Lake of the Woods County, MN ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 28.8 — 2812th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Minnesota, it ranks 62nd of 87 counties. Among its 3 neighboring counties, 2 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lake of the Woods County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 54.0 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 54.0
Unemployment Rate 91
Poverty Rate 24
Income vs. State Median 70
Child Poverty Rate 36
Disability Rate 25
Transfer Income Dependency 67
Housing Cost Burden 48.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 95
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 29
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 20
Homeownership Rate 5
Economic Vitality 43.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 25
Rent-to-Income Ratio 24
Business Formation Rate 94
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Legal Distress 39.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 39
Consumer Credit Distress 8.3
Debt in Collections 7
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 10
Credit Card Delinquency 13
Uninsured Rate 11
Subprime Credit Population 5

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lake of the Woods County
Lake of the Woods County, MN 28.8 Healthy —
Beltrami County, MN 45.4 Normal +16.5
Koochiching County, MN 29.9 Healthy +1.0
Roseau County, MN 27.9 Healthy -0.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lake of the Woods County
Beaver County, OK 28.9 Healthy +0.1
Phelps County, NE 28.9 Healthy +0.1
Morton County, KS 28.9 Healthy +0.1
Baraga County, MI 28.7 Healthy -0.1
Eddy County, ND 28.7 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Lake of the Woods County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Lake of the Woods County

Find an Attorney

Minnesota State Bar Association Lawyer Referral offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Minnesota State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 612-278-6333

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Lake of the Woods County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis 612-334-5970
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid 612-332-1441
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services 1-888-575-2954
Central Minnesota Legal Services, Inc. (612) 334-5970
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (800) 933-1112
Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota Corporation (800) 450-8585

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota?

    Lake of the Woods County has a County Distress Index score of 28.8 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,812th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 62nd in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lake of the Woods County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lake of the Woods County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 54.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Lake of the Woods County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lake of the Woods County (28.8) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Beltrami County, MN (45.4); Koochiching County, MN (29.9); Roseau County, MN (27.9).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Healthy zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Lake of the Woods County's score of 28.8 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power Lake of the Woods County's CDI score?

    Lake of the Woods County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Lake of the Woods County?

    Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 3,778 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.